Box Plot
Shows how box-and-whisker plots summarize data distribution, variability, and outliers across groups in a compact visual.
Box Plot: Visualizing Data Distribution with Quartiles
What Is a Box Plot?
A box plot, or box-and-whisker plot, summarizes a distribution using the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum, plus any outliers. The box shows the middle 50% of values (the interquartile range), and whiskers extend to typical minimum and maximum values.
How to Read One
By comparing the height and position of boxes and medians across categories, you can quickly see which groups have higher typical values, more variability, or skewed distributions. Outlier points draw attention to unusually high or low data values.
When to Use Box Plots
Box plots are especially useful when you want to compare distributions across several groups side by side, such as deal sizes by segment or response times by support tier. They reveal patterns that averages alone would hide.